General Info

[Cholohito]

I am planning a trip to CR in November and want to know how is the best way to get around the country, my trips will be most from San Jose to Jaco and return and maybe one hours drive from Jaco in all directions. Would you recommend renting a SUV from the airport?

[Diver2]

Hey guys,

Headed back to CR next month. I know all about San Jose, but I may in in Tamarindo diving for a few days and was wondering about the action there. I researched the forum and didn't see much.

Thanks

Diverr

[WilliamWalker]

Airfare sale on Delta from ATL to San Jose at $354 round trip.

Hurry before they realize their mistake.

[Coquí]

Just returned from CR and spent 3 weeks at Vistalinda Apt.

They are furnished and you can rent by the week or by mo. Very inexpensive, just 15 minutes to town by bus, and monger friendly.

If you are planning to stay over a week you should try this apt.

Their web page is vistalinda.webcindario.com and their e-mail is vistalin@racsa.co.cr

Many season mongers stay there so it is a good source of info on the latest action.

Happy huntings

[WillySP]

Casa Alianza Director Bruce Harris "Fired" Over Sex Scandal!
Bruce Harris, the regional director of Casa Alianza, a Covenant House program that is Central America's most important ch*ldren's rights organization, has been fired because of a relationship with a boy the organization had once helped.
Harris, "recently paid for sexual favors from a 19-year-old Honduran yo*th" who had been a resident of the organization's shelter until near the end of 2002, according to a statement released Friday by Covenant House, Casa Alianza's parent organization.

The encounter took place in a hotel room in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, the statement said. "Mr. Harris had admitted that he acted incorrectly," it continued.

The outspoken Harris had announced Thursday from his home in Costa Rica that he was retiring as executive director of Casa Alianza, the Latin American affiliate of the New York-based Covenant House, to spend more time with his family.

But on Friday Covenant House issued a statement saying it ''fired Mr. Harris and that Mr. Harris had admitted that he acted incorrectly.''

Casa Alianza officials in Honduras and Costa Rica declined to comment and their website, http://www.casa-alianza.org/ is not accessible.

Honduran prosecutors were investigating and Casa Alianza, based in Costa Rica, was cooperating, according to Covenant House.

The dismissal was a blow to the reputations of Harris and Casa Alianza as the chief defenders of the rights of ch*ldren in Central America, which has crusaded for the rights of poor, abused and abandoned yo*th and which had demanded that police crack down on sexual tourism by foreigners who had preyed upon yo*ths in the area.


Child prostitution is a significant regional problem
Harris gained international fame with his allegations that police officers and other security forces were executing street ch*ldren, many of them petty criminals addicted to sniffing glue and industrial solvents.

Casa Alianza maintains shelters and other programs in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico.

In a letter to The Associated Press announcing that he was resigning, Harris said Casa Alianza "had accomplished a lot for the protection of Latin American ch*ldren during the last decade and a half.''

''We have not succeeded in stopping the suffering of street ch*ldren . . . but at least the world now knows it's happening,'' he wrote.

But his busy travel schedule kept him away from his family, he added. "Our ch*ldren are growing and I don't want to miss the time they have left at home.''


Harris had made many enemies
In 2000, then Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez accused him of masterminding a campaign to vilify Costa Rica by generating media reports on the country's child-sex industry.

And in January, a Guatemala court acquitted him on charges that he defamed the wife of a Supreme Court justice when he alleged influence-trafficking in adoption cases.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press late Friday, he declined to give details about the case, but said he was "at the disposition" of investigators.

"Sheltering behind a lie has never been my way, so I assume, as I always have done, responsibility for my acts, correct or incorrect," Harris wrote. "I do not want to have the boys and girls served by Casa Alianza pay for my private life."

In its statement, Covenant House said Pedro Fragoso, Casa Alianza's director of internal auditing, had been tapped to replace Harris temporarily.

Covenant House spokesman Richard Hirsch said the agency's board met late Thursday and decided to set up a committee to carry out an independent investigation of the charges against Harris.

"We're a child care agency, our primary concern has to be the good of the ch*ldren," he said. "When there's any question about that, we really have to step back and look at" the situation.

"The program is not one individual, it's all these people who work to assist young people," Hirsch added.

Casa Alianza worked with governments throughout the region to rescue homeless youngsters who had been forced into prostitution rings or the illicit drug trade. It even helped authorities in some countries organize sting operations designed to catch police officers and other adults abusing street ch*ldren.

The British-born Harris was well-known throughout Latin America as an outspoken defender of ch*ldren's rights.


Covenant House Privately Funded
Covenant House says it is the largest privately funded child-care agency in the United States providing shelter and service to homeless and runaway yo*th.

In 1989, a former male prostitute said he had an affair with Covenant House's founder, the late Rev. Bruce Ritter. Several other young men at Covenant House also accused the Franciscan priest of seducing them.

Ritter denied the charges, but was ordered to take a leave of absence when questionable financial transactions surfaced. He later resigned.

The Covenant House board eventually found no serious financial impropriety, but extensive evidence of sexual misconduct. Ritter, who died in 1999, was never charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

[CaribbeanGringo]

Cool,
Check the archives

[Cool]

what is the street scene and club scene like. prices etc. I know Del Rey has stunners. Where to find beautiful young latinas? Thanks.

[Jaimito Cartero]

Grenada, not sure where you're getting your travel info from. If you're a US citizen you'll need a visa to get into Brazil. I believe you can get it on short notice, but it will be very expensive.

Also there are generally no "standby" tickets these days. If you miss a flight, then yes, you might fly standby, but you can't just hang out and see what pops up. (Unless you're a relative of an airplane employee, etc).

Costa Rica is a good choice. It's not glamorous, but does have a lot of nice places. I'd get out a bit more than just Gringo Gulch (Del Rey, etc).

You can get fares from $200-$400 from most of the US. American, Continental, Taca/Lacsa often have good rates.

[Jaimito Cartero]

Christmas and Easter are the big holiday seasons. Even then, you can find plenty of girls.

[German Guy]

Cool,

The best time to visit Costa Rica is January to March, when its summer time. There will be little or no rain, and the beaches will be full of people. As far as Holidays, avoid Christmas and New Year's, there might not be as many girls availble as expected. I wish you have a nice time in Costa Rica.

[Cool]

when is the best time to visit San Jose as far as weather etc. Also what holidays to avoid so I don't get their when the girls are visiting their families.

[Grenada 79]

How are you gentlemen?

Long time enjoyer of WSG, though I seldomly post, this being my first time in any Costa Rica section.

I am planning a very spontaneous solo trip to Costa Rica in the next two weeks or so, and although I have RTFF (General Info only, so far due to time), I have a few questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Note worthy info: Money is fairly limited (looking at slightly less than $1500 USD to cover EVERYTHING), and narrowing my choices to Brazil, Peru or Costa Rica. Costa Rica is looking the best due to aitrline costs, unless I can find some stand-by tickets. Also, I am looking to stay at hostels more than hotels. I am fairly young (early 20's, possibly with a "younger face"). Will with out a doubt be looking forward to meeting many Ticas (?), and while p4p will likely be had, I am quite confident in my ability to meet non-pros, as far as my not terrible, yet far from conversational spanish will allow. Not overly concerned about safety, and am definately trying to avoid any not-fantastic encounters with law enforcement of any kind. Don't have too much of a problem with finding myself on-my-dick broke, at some point, as that is the condition I usually enjoy here in the states.

Firstly, I am wondering if anybody can recommend any urban areas outside of San Jose, where I will likely be flying in. I am looking for inexpensive-ness, locals (especially women, but dont like anything too touristy), beaches, must-see sites, etc.

Secondly, was hoping to get an idea of what season it will be through september - october. Aveage temp., rainfall, etc.

Thirdly, am wondering about the possibility of any money-earning opportunites. Legal only, with the exception of "under-the-table" if that is an issue there. I definately have a certain way with the richer folk, especially in the US, but have had luck in other countries as well, specifically private lessons to the kin of rich-folk, in the form of martial-arts (am an accredited instructor), english, etc. Is there a note-worthy richer area of SJ or anywher else I might want to frequent for this purpose?

Lastly (I hope), wondering about any sort of public transportation outside of taxis. Buses, subway, etc.? Also, Buses for longer routes (like Peter Pan/ Grey Hound compared with city buses), to get to any further destination that might be reccomended.

Sorry about the long post, guys, and I appreciate all the great info. I've read here so far. Definately very helpful. Any suggestions here would be great.

Thanks

[Lj7076]

Can anyone currently in C.R. comment on the transportation strike? Scheduled to head down next week and am getting reports that things are bad and getting worse.

Thanks

[WillySP]

I booked my flight on AA for $377 out of Chicago for Oct 2 - 10.

I will be at the Presidente and hope to meet up with people there.

This will be the second trip this year and my third overall.

Shamas will you be around during this time frame? I will send you a PM.

[Mojok]

Check Taca.com for flights out of SFO. They have a sale right now, always pretty cheap, and great flight times. They leave at 1am, arrive at 10am so you have all day there. Depart SJO at 5pm, no early morning flights to catch. And they're a pretty good airline, too, pretty latinas for flight attendants.